Buttress for Removable Cleats

ABSTRACT

A shoe sole for receiving at least one cleat has at least one cleat receptacle, and at least one buttress forming a protrusion on the bottom of the shoe sole. The buttress may be adjacent to the receptacle. The buttress may be configured to support an outer edge of a cleat mounted in the receptacle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority from Provisional Application No.61/905,919, filed Nov. 19, 2013, titled “Buttress for Removable Cleats,”which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to athletic shoes, and more particularlyto cleats.

BACKGROUND ART

Athletic shoe cleats, in particular golf cleats, have been subject tochanging designs in recent years, to attempt to provide users with avariety of advantages. In particular, shoes with removable cleats havehad great success. Recent improvement in cleats and receptacle designfor facilitating the attachment and release of the cleat from the shoehas made the cleat more susceptible to unwanted dislodgement due toimpact occurring during use of the cleats. An illustration of the mannerin which such a cleat may be dislodged is shown in FIGS. 1A-1C.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a shoe sole forreceiving at least one cleat has at least one cleat receptacle, and atleast one buttress forming a protrusion on the bottom of the shoe sole.The buttress may be adjacent to the receptacle. The buttress may beconfigured to support an outer edge of a cleat mounted in thereceptacle.

Some embodiments may have a cleat mounted in the receptacle. Thebuttress may support at least a single leg of the cleat. The buttressmay be configured so that it contacts an outer edge of the leg of thecleat. Additionally, the buttress may be in constant contact with thecleat when the cleat is mounted in the receptacle. In some embodiments,the shoe sole may include two or more buttresses equidistant of eachother.

In some embodiments, the receptacle may be surrounded by the at leastone buttress. The buttress may be substantially in the shape of a ring.Optionally, the buttress may interlock with the cleat. In someembodiments, the inner diameter of the buttress may be equal to an outerdiameter of the cleat so as to come in close contact with the cleat.

In some embodiments, the protrusion formed by the buttress has an acuteangular apex facing the sole. A diameter at the apex of the buttress maybe greater than an outer diameter of the cleat. The buttress may have aconcave surface with a focal point located in the interior of the cleatreceptacle. The focal point may be at the center of the cleatreceptacle. In some embodiments, an orthogonal projection on the sole ofthe apex may be within the buttress. Alternatively, some embodiments mayhave an orthogonal projection on the sole of the apex that is beside thebuttress. Alternatively, an orthogonal projection on the sole of theapex may be along a side of the buttress facing the cleat socket.

In some embodiments, the apex may have a height equal to a greatestheight of the cleat. Alternatively, the apex may have a height smallerthan a greatest height of the cleat.

In some embodiments, the buttress may be integral to the sole. In someembodiments of the invention, a shoe includes a shoe sole for receivingat least one cleat that has at least one cleat receptacle, and at leastone buttress. The buttress forms a protrusion on the bottom of the shoesole. The shoe may have the buttress adjacent to the receptacle, and thebuttress may be configured to support an outer edge of a cleat mountedin the receptacle.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a shoe sole forreceiving at least one cleat includes at least one cleat receptacle, andat least one buttress. The buttress may form a protrusion on the bottomof the shoe sole adjacent the receptacle. The buttress may be configuredto prevent a cleat mounted in the receptacle from being dislodged fromthe receptacle.

In some embodiments, the buttress protects the cleat. The buttress maybe spaced around the cleat. Optionally, at least one buttress may belined up with a leg of the cleat. Additionally, the buttress may supportat least a single leg of the cleat.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a shoe has asole with a traction surface with one or more receptacles in the solefor receiving a cleat. The cleat may have at least one tractionprojection extending from the base and an engagement projection forconnecting with the receptacle. The base may have an exteriorcircumferential surface having a first shape. The sole may include aring protruding from the sole and positioned around the receptacle Thering may have an interior circumferential surface with a second shape,such that the second shape may complement the first shape of the base.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a shoe includesa sole with a traction surface with one or more receptacles forreceiving a base for a cleat disposed in the sole. The cleat may have atleast one traction projection extending from the base and an engagementprojection for connecting with the receptacle. The base may have anexterior circumferential surface having a first shape. The sole may alsoinclude a plurality of protection elements protruding from the tractionsurface and spaced equidistantly around the receptacle. Each of theprotection elements may have an inner surface adjacent the receptacle.The inner surfaces of each protection element may have a second shapethat complements the first shape of the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of embodiments will be more readily understood byreference to the following detailed description, taken with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-C are side views in partial cross section of a prior art cleaton a sole during an exposure to lateral stress (with the bottom of thecleat facing upwardly in the figure—this “upside down” orientation isshown in all of the side views below);

FIG. 2A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 2A (showing the bottom ofthe cleat and a portion of the bottom of the shoe sole).

FIG. 3A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is an excerpt of the cleat of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the buttress of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6D is an excerpt showing the details of the buttress and the cleatof FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 7A; and

FIG. 8 is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Removable cleats 12, mounted on athletic shoes soles 10, are prone tobeing dislodged from their receptacles 16 by traction forces 18 thatdevelop around the cleats 12 and against the legs 14 of the cleats 12during use. These forces 18 can have significant components lateral tothe main axis of the cleats, as shown in FIGS. 1A-C, and these lateralforce 18 components can sometimes pull the cleats out of theirreceptacles. Removable cleats 12 may be designed to increase thetraction of athletic shoes. The increased traction can result inincreased lateral forces 18, thereby increasing the likelihood that thecleats 12 will be removed from the sole of the athletic shoe. Lateralforces 18 can be encountered in a number of situations when a person iswearing an athletic shoe with cleats 12. In some situations, walking ona solid surface with a shoe having removable cleats 12 may createsufficient lateral forces 18 to dislodge the cleat 12. The removablecleats 12 may experience strong lateral forces 18 on surfaces that arecompressible. For example, surfaces such as soil or sand may allow thecleat 12 to dig into the surface, thereby increasing the surface area ofthe cleat that may be subject to the lateral force 18. Furthermore, insituations where a cleat 12 may be most helpful, such as during aforceful movement that requires rotation of the foot (e.g. golf swing,soccer shot) or transmission of rapid power through the foot (e.g.sprinting), the strongest lateral forces 18 may be produced.

To counteract these lateral forces 18, one or more buttresses may beplaced against or near the cleat 22. In some embodiments the buttress 28may protect the cleat 22. Alternatively, the buttress 28 may support thecleat 22. In other embodiments the buttress 28 may protect and supportthe cleat 22. By supporting the cleat, the buttress 28 prevents thecleat from being dislodged from its receptacle in the sole. Referring toFIGS. 2A and 2B, a shoe sole 20 has at least one, but generally a seriesof, cleats 22 with, at least one, but usually a plurality of legs 24.The cleats 22 are inserted into receptacles (or sockets) 26 in the sole20. In this embodiment, the cleat 22 is surrounded by a circularbuttress 28 disposed adjoining the rim 21 of the receptacle 26. Acontinuous ring protrudes from the sole 20 and forms the buttress 28resting against the circumferential outer surface of the cleat 22 andits legs 24. In some embodiments, the ring formed by the buttress 28 maynot be continuous. For example, the circular buttress 28 may havediscontinuities along portions of the ring that are between legs 24. InFIG. 2A, the buttress is seen in cross section and reveals a profilethat has an apex 23 with an acute angle 25 facing the sole 20 of theshoe. The apex 23 is the part of the buttress 28 that extends thefurthest perpendicular to the surface of the shoe sole 20. The buttress28 is in close contact with the cleat 22 body and legs 24. Acute angle25 is the angle between a surface in contact 27 with the cleat 22, and asurface facing away 29 from the cleat 22. The height of the buttress 28at the apex 23 may be from about a third to two thirds of the height ofthe legs 24, or any other height suitable for supporting the cleat 22when it is subject to lateral forces 18.

In FIG. 2A, the surface in contact 27 with the cleat 22 extends from theapex 23 to the rim 21 of the receptacle 26. The slope of the surface incontact 27 with the cleat 22 is the angle formed between the surface incontact 27 and the shoe sole 20. The surface facing away 29 from thecleat 22 is the surface that extends from the apex 23 to the shoe sole20. The slope of the surface facing away 29 from the cleat 22 is theangle formed between the surface facing away 29 and the shoe sole 20.The slope of the surface in contact 27 with the cleat 22 may be steeperthan the slope of the surface facing away 29 from the cleat, or viceversa.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the buttress 28 may contact the cleat 22 at thelegs 24, and may not contact the cleat 22 between the legs 24. The legs24 have an outer edge 24 a. The legs 24 also have inner surfaces 24 b,as shown in FIG. 2B. In some embodiments, the buttress may contact onlythe outer edge 24 a of one or more legs 24. The outer edge 24 a is theportion of the leg 24 that extends the furthest away from the center ofthe cleat 22. FIGS. 2A-2B show an embodiment of the outer edge 24 a of aleg 24. FIGS. 4A-4B show another embodiment of an outer edge 24 a. InFIGS. 4A, legs 44 a and 44 b have outer edges 24 a. As can be seen, theouter edge 24 a does not have to be a planar surface. The outer edge 24a may have a number of different surfaces. Similarly, the buttress 48does not have to make contact with all of the outer edges 24 a. Thebuttress 48 may contact only the outer edges 24 a of short legs 44 b,and not of the long legs 44 a.

The buttress 28 may be formed as an integral part of the sole 20, or itmay be prepared separately and secured to the sole 20 around the rim 21of the receptacle 26 with glue or sequential molding. The material forthe buttress 28 may be made of a material that is the same as thematerial of the sole 20, or it may be of a different material with adifferent stiffness (e.g. shore A). Examples of suitable materials maybe synthetic polymers such as, rubber, silicone, thermoplastic urethane,or polyvinyl chloride compounds.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the buttress 38 may be positioned on aperimeter larger than the perimeter of the receptacle 36, such that itdoes not come in direct contact with the cleat 32 and its legs 34. FIG.3A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat on a soleaccording to an embodiment of the invention. The profile of the buttress38, viewed in cross section in FIG. 3A, may be rounded at the top orangular as described above and shown in FIG. 2A. Alternatively, someembodiments of the buttress 38 may be substantially flat at the top.FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 3A. In some embodiments,the buttress 38 may form a continuous ring around the cleat 32 as shownin FIG. 3B. The distance between the buttress 38 and the rim 31 of thereceptacle 36 may vary. A number of distances from the buttress 38 tothe rim 31 may be suitable for the buttress 38 to counteract lateralforces 18.

The buttress 38 has an apex 33. The apex is the point of the buttress 38that extends the furthest perpendicular to the surface of the sole 30.The apex 33 may have varying dimensions based on the shape of thebuttress 38. In the buttress 38 shown in FIG. 3B, the apex 33 runs in aline continuously along the ring. In some embodiments of the invention,there may be a single point along the ring that forms the apex 33. Otherembodiments may have a flat surface that forms an apex 33. Someembodiments may have a number of apexes 33 formed along the continuousring as seen in FIG. 3B. Apexes 33 may be equidistant from one another.For example, the continuous ring may have crenellations formed by thebuttress 38 that form a number of equidistant apexes 33. In otherembodiments, the apexes 33 may not be equidistant. In some embodiments,there may be a disproportionate number of apexes 33 formed along aportion of the buttress 38. For example, a large proportion of apexes 33may be strategically formed on the buttress 38 in an area of the shoesole 30 designed to counter strong lateral forces 18.

When the buttress 28 supports the cleat 22, it may contact the cleat 22when the cleat 22 is mounted in the receptacle 26. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2A, when the cleat 22 is inserted into the receptacle 26,the cleat 22 and the buttress 28 are in constant contact until the cleat22 is removed from the receptacle 26. The contact between the cleat 22and the buttress 28 may counter the lateral forces 18 experienced by thecleat 22. However, the buttress 38 does not always have to be in contactwith the cleat 32, as in FIG. 3A. The buttress 38 may prevent the cleat32 from being removed from the receptacle 36 by protecting the cleat 32from the effect of the lateral forces 18. As shown in FIG. 3B, thebuttress 38 may be spaced away from the cleat 32 and may encounterlateral forces 18 before the cleat 32 thereby protecting the cleat 32.In some embodiments, the buttress 28 may be configured to support thecleat 22 and to protect the cleat 32 from lateral forces 18.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-C, a series of isolated buttresses 48 may bepositioned against the cleat 42. FIGS. 4A-B show three long legs 44 aand three short legs 44 b alternating along the rim 41. In thisembodiment, the buttress 48 is shown in contact with the cleat 42between the long legs 44 a and flush with the rim 41 of the receptacle46. In some embodiments, buttress 48 may be sufficiently close to thecleat 42 so as to support the cleat 42 without making contact with thecleat 42 when the cleat 42 is in an unstressed position. The islets ofbuttresses 48 may be equidistant of each other around the rim 41.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the islets may be interspersed around the rim 41and between the long legs 44 a of the cleat 42. In alternativeembodiments, the islets of buttresses 48 may support only the long legs44 a. To that end, the islets of buttresses 48 may be formed adjacent tothe long legs 44 a. Other embodiments may have islets interspersedbetween the long legs 44 a and adjacent to the long legs 44 a.Alternatively, the islets of buttresses 48 may be interspersed aroundthe rim 41 and between the short legs 44 b of the cleat 42. In otherembodiments, the islets of buttresses 48 may support only the short legs44 b as shown in FIG. 4B. To that end, the islets of buttresses 48 maybe formed adjacent to the short legs 44 b.

As shown in the top view of FIG. 4B, the buttress islet 48 may have atrapezoidal foot print on the sole 40. Alternatively, the foot print maybe curved or elliptical as shown in FIG. 5B, or pyramidal. Similarly,the transversal cross section of the buttress islet 48 may be angular,as shown in FIG. 4B, or rounded as shown in FIG. 5B.

Depending on the design of the cleat 42, there may be as little as twoislets 48, or as many as 8 or more. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.4A-C there are three such islets 48. Each buttress 48 may have its ownapex 43. Viewed in cross section, the inside slope 47 of the buttress 48may be such that an orthogonal projection P of the apex 43 on the sole40 is located beneath the buttress 48. FIG. 4C is an excerpt of thecleat of FIG. 4A. The angle formed between the inside slope 47 and thesole 40 may be less than 90 degrees. In some embodiments, the apex 43may not be at the top of the inside slope 47. Some buttresses 48 may beshaped in such a way that the inside slope 47 leads to another slopewhere the apex 43 is located.

In other embodiments such as the one shown in FIG. 5A, the projection Pis at the inside edge of the buttress 58 as the slope is vertical or, asshown in FIGS. 6A, C and D, the projection P of the apex 63 may belocated besides the interior surface of the buttress 68 facing the cleat62. FIG. 6A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat 62 on asole according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 6A, theorthogonal projection P of the apex 63 on the sole 60 shows that Pcrosses through cleat 62. The orthogonal projection P may be seen indetail in FIG. 6D. FIG. 6D is an excerpt showing the details of thebuttress and the cleat of FIG. 6A. An embodiment of the buttress 68,shown in FIG. 6A, at least partially covers the cleat 62 therebyinterlocking with the cleat 62. Embodiments of the buttress 68 thatinterlock with the cleat 62 may be able to combat lateral forces 18better than embodiments that do not interlock with the cleat 62. FIG. 6Bis a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 6A. As shown in FIG. 6B, thebuttress 68 may surround the entire cleat 62, and in some embodiments,may interlock with the cleat 62 all around the cleat 62. FIG. 6C shows aperspective view of the buttress 68 of FIG. 6A when the cleat 62 is notinserted in the sole 60. As can be seen, the buttress 68 is shaped tointerlock with at least part of the cleat 62.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the buttress 58 is not incontact with cleat 54. The buttress 58 is spaced around the cleat 52. Insome embodiments, when the short leg 54 b flexes, the short leg 54 b maycontact the buttress 58. As a result, the cleat 52 is kept in thereceptacle 56 because it is supported by the contact with the buttress58. The cleat is also kept in the receptacle because the buttress 58protects the cleat from lateral forces 18. In other embodiments, whenthe leg 54 b flexes, the cleat 52 may not come into contact with thebuttress 58.

FIG. 7A is a side view in partial cross section of a cleat 72 on a sole70 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 7A, the buttress 78 is interlocking with cleat 72. FIG. 7B is abottom view of the cleat 72 of FIG. 7A. In some embodiments, theinterlocking buttress 78 may also be formed of islets as shown in FIG.7B. The interlocking buttress 78 does not have to be a continuous ring.The buttress 78 islets may be elongated. Some embodiments may have aplanar top surface, as shown in FIG. 7B. Other embodiments of thebuttress 78 islets may have a planar top surface that is substantiallyparallel with the sole 70. The side surfaces of the islet buttress 78may be a planar surface. The planar surface may be substantiallyperpendicular with the sole 70 of the shoe. In other embodiments, theside surfaces may be tapered as shown in FIG. 7B.

In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, the buttress 88 may also beused for non-removable cleats 82 that are permanently fitted inreceptacles 85 in the sole 80. The non-removable cleats 82 may be moldedinto the sole 80 of the shoe. In some embodiments, the at least onebuttress 88 may be formed as a unitary member with the sole.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to bemerely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparentto those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications areintended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined inany appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe sole for receiving at least one cleatcomprising: at least one cleat receptacle, and at least one buttressforming a protrusion on the bottom of the shoe sole adjacent thereceptacle, the buttress being configured to support an outer edge of acleat mounted in the receptacle.
 2. The shoe sole of claim 1, whereinthe buttress supports at least a single leg of the cleat.
 3. The shoesole of claim 2, wherein the buttress is configured so that it contactsan outer edge of the leg.
 4. The shoe sole of claim 2, wherein thebuttress is in constant contact with the cleat when it is mounted in thereceptacle.
 5. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the receptacle issurrounded by the at least one buttress.
 6. The shoe sole of claim 1,further comprising a cleat mounted in the receptacle.
 7. The shoe soleof claim 1, wherein the buttress interlocks with the cleat
 8. The shoesole of claim 1, wherein the protrusion has an acute angular apex facingthe sole.
 9. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the buttress has aconcave surface with a focal point located in the interior of the cleatreceptacle.
 10. The shoe sole of claim 9, wherein the focal point is atthe center of the cleat receptacle.
 11. The shoe sole of claim 1,wherein the buttress is substantially in the shape of a ring.
 12. Theshoe sole of claim 11, wherein an inner diameter of the buttress isequal to an outer diameter of a cleat so as to come in close contactwith the cleat.
 13. The shoe sole of claim 12, wherein a diameter at theapex of the buttress is greater than an outer diameter of the cleat. 14.The shoe sole of claim 1, comprising two or more buttresses equidistantof each other.
 15. The shoe sole of claim 8, wherein an orthogonalprojection on the sole of the apex is within the buttress.
 16. The shoesole of claim 8, wherein an orthogonal projection on the sole of theapex is beside the buttress.
 17. The shoe sole of claim 8, wherein anorthogonal projection on the sole of the apex is along a side of thebuttress facing the cleat socket.
 18. The shoe sole of claim 8, whereinthe apex has a height equal to a greatest height of the cleat.
 19. Theshoe sole of claim 8, wherein the apex has a height smaller than agreatest height of the cleat.
 20. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein thebuttress is integral to the sole.
 21. A shoe comprising the sole ofclaim
 1. 22. A shoe sole for receiving at least one cleat comprising: atleast one cleat receptacle, and at least one buttress forming aprotrusion on the bottom of the shoe sole adjacent the receptacle, thebuttress being configured to prevent a cleat mounted in the receptaclefrom being dislodged from the receptacle.
 23. The shoe sole of claim 22,wherein the buttress protects the cleat.
 24. The shoe sole of claim 22,wherein the buttress is spaced around the cleat.
 25. The shoe sole ofclaim 22, wherein at least one buttress is lined up with a leg of thecleat.
 26. The shoe sole of claim 22, wherein the buttress supports atleast a single leg of the cleat.
 27. The shoe sole of claim 22, whereinthe receptacle is surrounded by the at least one buttress.
 28. The shoesole of claim 22, further comprising a cleat mounted in the receptacle.29. The shoe sole of claim 22, wherein the buttress interlocks with thecleat
 30. The shoe sole of claim 22, wherein the protrusion has an acuteangular apex facing the sole.
 31. The shoe sole of claim 22, wherein thebuttress has a concave surface with a focal point located in theinterior of the cleat receptacle.
 32. The shoe sole of claim 31, whereinthe focal point is at the center of the cleat receptacle.
 33. The shoesole of claim 22, wherein the buttress is substantially in the shape ofa ring.
 34. The shoe sole of claim 33, comprising two or more buttressesequidistant of each other.
 35. The shoe sole of claim 22, wherein theapex has a height equal to a greatest height of the cleat.
 36. The shoesole of claim 22, wherein the apex has a height smaller than a greatestheight of the cleat.
 37. The shoe sole of claim 22, wherein the buttressis integral to the sole.
 38. A shoe comprising the sole of claim
 22. 39.A shoe comprising: a sole having a traction surface; a receptacledisposed in the sole; and a cleat having at least one tractionprojection extending from a base and an engagement projection forconnecting with the receptacle, the base having an exteriorcircumferential surface having a first shape; wherein the sole includesa ring protruding from the traction surface and positioned around thereceptacle, the ring having an interior circumferential surface having asecond shape, such that the second shape complements the first shape.40. A shoe comprising: a sole having a traction surface; a receptacledisposed in the sole; and a cleat having at least one tractionprojection extending from a base and an engagement projection forconnecting with the receptacle, the base having an exteriorcircumferential surface having a first shape; wherein the sole includesa plurality of protection elements protruding from the traction surfaceand spaced equidistantly around the receptacle, each of the protectionelements having an inner surface adjacent the receptacle, the innersurfaces each having a second shape that complements the first shape.